Corn Maze Orienteering!

Corn Maze Orienteering comes to Missoula! Come be a part of the first-ever Corn Maze Orienteering event in Montana. We are partnering with the Missoula Fall Fest for the exclusive opportunity to try out orienteering in their intricately designed corn maze.

Corn Maze Orienteering

Tomorrow is the day! 

Corn Maze Orienteering - perhaps the highlight of our fall season - is finally here. We are partnering with the Missoula Fall Fest to invite you to run around the three intricately designed corn mazes they have on offer this year.

The Timing

Start will be open from 530-630pm. Everyone should be out of the mazes by 730pm. It will be dark after 7pm or so, so bring a headlamp if you plan to show up on the late side. Please make sure to sign up ahead of time so that we print enough maps.

The Location

Everything will take place at the Fall Fest location at Grass Valley farms. Here are the directions: Starting from the corner of Reserve and Mullan, turn west onto Mullan and drive until you reach Deschamps Lane and there take a right. Then turn right at the big rooster. Some navigation may take you through the Ranch Club neighborhood, but this is incorrect - stay on Mullan until you reach Deschamps.

The Courses

There are three different mazes available. The two bigger mazes will each have a longer and shorter course available. 

You can run a course in each maze if you like. After each one, you have to come download your e-chip, clear and check, and get a new map for the next one. 

King, Queen, and Child of the Corn

The Male, Female, and Youth (16 and under) with the fastest combined time across the long courses in all the mazes (three courses total) without mispunching will be crowned the King, Queen, and Child of the Corn, respectively. This is a very prestigious title, so I expect the battle will be fierce. 

The Rule

There is one main rule in Corn Maze orienteering: do not cut through! 

You are only allowed to stay on the mapped paths through the maze. If you are seen cutting through, you will be disqualified and not allowed to start any other courses. If you accidentally run through an unmapped passage (there are a few of these - they are much narrower than the mapped ones), please back out of it and continue with your course. 

The Map

The map only shows the passages through the corn, and all the controls will be on them. Please be careful when running, and slow down around corners to avoid knocking over fellow competitors. Be respectful of the maze and the Fall Fest organizers, so that we are invited back next year.

Refreshments

Rumor has it that a hot beverage truck will be on site to sell hot drinks, so bring your wallets, and stick around!

Finally, have fun! I think this will be a unique and special event, and we hope you have a blast. 

Thank you to our partners at the Missoula Fall Fest for making this happen.

Beginner Instruction Beginner instruction will be provided by several experienced orienteers. If this is your first event, take a look at the "Newcomers" section of our website to get an idea of what to expect: https://www.grizzlyorienteering.org/newcomers .

Entry Fees

We are getting a special deal from our friends at Fall Fest: entry is $5 a person!

Equipment  We will provide specially created maps of the maze with pre-printed courses for each participant. Wear clothing that is comfortable for activities outdoors and appropriate for the expected temperatures. Please bring your own snacks and hydration, though limited snacks and water will be made available at the finish.

Start and Finish You will need to check in with one of our volunteers at registration  before proceeding to the start. Our volunteers will provide you with the  appropriate map, a loaner compass if needed, and a loaner electronic  timing chip and will keep track of  who is out and doing which course. When you have found all the controls  on your course, return to the finish and check in with a volunteer  there. Even if you decide to quit your course before finding all the  controls, please check in at the finish so we do not go out searching for you. Everyone must be back from the maze by 730pm.

Electronic "punching"

An e-punch records your race. At each control, you’ll dip the e-punch  into an electronic box, which will beep and flash as confirmation.  After you finish, you’ll download the e-punch at the download tent and  get a receipt that shows which controls you visited and how long you took  between each; these are your “splits.”

Part of the fun of orienteering is comparing your splits with people  who completed the same course, and discussing the routes you took!